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Features

In terms of programming the remote, the Harmony One works in the same way other Harmony remotes do. As we noted in our earlier reviews, programming a universal remote can be a frustrating and time-consuming process involving punching a series of multi-digit codes for each component in your A/V system. By contrast, Harmony remotes are programmed by connecting them to your Internet-connected Windows PC or Mac with the supplied USB cable, installing the model-specific version of Harmony software, and answering a fairly simple online questionnaire on the company's Web site.

You simply choose your home theater components from a list; explain how they're connected; and define their roles in activity-based functions such as Watch TV, Watch DVD, and Listen to music. For each function, you specify which devices and inputs the remote must enable. You can also choose which keypad functions will punch through to which specific devices--always having the channel buttons control the cable box or the volume controls dedicated to the TV, for instance. After you've completed the questionnaire, the software uploads all the relevant control codes to the Harmony One.

As easy as the remote generally is to use, some users may encounter a few snags when initially setting up their remotes. Luckily, Logitech has continued to make improvements to its software system for the better. From time to time, Logitech offers firmware upgrades for specific remotes, as well as upgrades to the Harmony desktop software. While there's still no way to manage multiple Harmony remotes on the same account (you're required to create separate user accounts, with separate names and passwords, for each of them), Logitech has made it very easy to swap in a new Harmony remote for an old one and transfer in that remote's system setup. For example, if you already had an older Harmony that you use with your main living room system, you could quickly swap in the Harmony One, and then set up a separate profile for the old Harmony, which you could then use in another room.

As we said in our earlier reviews of Harmony remotes, if you have a complicated system, you can expect to spend some time fine-tuning the remote to get it to work just right. A certain amount of trial and error is involved. You must verify that the commands work with your equipment as intended, then modify them as necessary. The Web site provides advanced, macro-style options for delay times, multistep commands, and other functions. Also, the remote's Help key aids in troubleshooting by asking natural language questions on the LCD. For instance, the screen may read: "Is the digital settop box on?"

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